Monday, April 18, 2005
True Story
Evil scientist: "Eureka! I've created an allergy medicine that can bring instant relief to allergy sufferers. And we can package it in individual blister packs that can only be opened with the aid of power tools."
Evil drug company executive: "Why would we want to do that?"
Evil scientist: "Because they'll get so frustrated trying to get the damn pill out of the damn package, they'll also need to buy blood pressure medicine by the time they're done."
Evil drug company executive: "Why would we want to do that?"
Evil scientist: "Because they'll get so frustrated trying to get the damn pill out of the damn package, they'll also need to buy blood pressure medicine by the time they're done."
Monday, April 04, 2005
Popeless
Not a lot to say. It's not really tragic but still very sad. About 80% of the TV commentary is maddeningly idiotic, which is actually pretty good because I thought it was going to be 90%. If I could have one wish, I'd like to change the rolodex where the producers go to get their clerical "experts". At least NBC seems to be giving George Weigel a fair amount of airtime.
A nice FAQ can be found here.
A nice FAQ can be found here.
Terri Schiavo has been killed
Let's be perfectly clear about our language: she was not "allowed to die". Even if we stipulate that Michael Schiavo correctly gleaned her wishes and Judge Greer correctly interpreted Florida law in allowing her surrogate to withdraw the "extraordinary measure" of the feeding tube; by what right do they refuse, under threat of armed force, any attempt to give ordinary sustenance? The goal was to make her dead.
Is anyone, Judge Greer, Michael, the Schindlers, You, Me, certain of what she would have wanted in these circumstances? I suspect most people would say "I wouldn't want to live like that" but the point is that without really being sure what her wishes were, our judiciary insisted that nothing stand in the way of her death.
Imagine what the world might be like ten years from now. What would it take to shock you? Forced euthanasia? Federally mandated protocols for physician-assisted suicide? "Quality of life" judgments about who lives and dies? Routine extermination of the severely disabled? These things are coming. They're coming like a freight train.
Better commentary than mine can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Is anyone, Judge Greer, Michael, the Schindlers, You, Me, certain of what she would have wanted in these circumstances? I suspect most people would say "I wouldn't want to live like that" but the point is that without really being sure what her wishes were, our judiciary insisted that nothing stand in the way of her death.
Imagine what the world might be like ten years from now. What would it take to shock you? Forced euthanasia? Federally mandated protocols for physician-assisted suicide? "Quality of life" judgments about who lives and dies? Routine extermination of the severely disabled? These things are coming. They're coming like a freight train.
Better commentary than mine can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
